The Days of Our Founding Continued (Part 3)

"A gift arrived that was to take its place in history. Strawberries, sent to Cammmie Jones, provided the inspiration for the first purely social gathering. They called it a 'strawberry feast'. It was at that party that the group decided, without a dissenting vote, to become recognized. With the decision to become recognized as one of the groups at the Normal, there was still no change int heir determination to select their name with meticulous care and appropriate meaning.

The Coleman girls received a box from home, sent by their father. It was a tub of choice oysters, 'the then-famous York River selects'. This gift decided the form of the announcement party, an oyster stew. Invitations would be sent to Kappa Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma as soon as a temporary name could be decided upon. Despite the efforts of the group, the organization was no secret. A member of another group met some the new group while out walking The story goes that she superciliously raised her brows and, forming a question mark with her fingers, inquired 'who are you?' Simultaneously, the group replied with an inspired, 'Yes, Who? Who? Who?' and rushed to find the other girls, for they knew that the three question marks (???) would answer just then for a signature. The announcement party invitations read: 'The ??? will be delighted to receive the Kappa Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma fraternities in the end room of Nursery Hall at 8:30 p.m.'

The oyster stew announcement party, held December 23, 1898, was highly successful. During the time before the adoption of the Greek name, three pledges were added. Odelle Warren Bonham, Grace Elcan Garnett and Ellen Baxter Armstrong became members on March 3, 1899.

To be continued...